This
page is from the teaching guide for the video "Being Responsible"
in the DVD series You
Can Choose!

HOW TO BE
A RESPONSIBLE PERSON
(AND FEEL GREAT!)

When you agree to do something, do it.If you let people down, they'll stop believing you. When you follow through on your commitments, people take you seriously.

Answer for your own actions. Don't make excuses or blame others for what you do. When you take responsibility for your actions you are saying "I am the one who's in charge of my life."

Take care of your own matters. Don't rely on adults to remind you when you're supposed to be somewhere or what you're supposed to bring. You take the responsibility.

Be trustworthy. If somebody trusts you to borrow or take care of something, take care of it. If somebody tells you something in confidence, keep it to yourself. It's important for people to know they can count on you.

Always use your head. Think things through and use good judgment. When you use your head you make better choices. That shows your parents they can trust you.

Don't put things off. When you have a job to do, do it. Doing things on time helps you take control of your life and shows that you can manage your own affairs.

Start your kids on the path to positive, healthful life choices. This delightful video series teaches children valuable lessons that contribute to self-discipline, good decision-making, high self-esteem, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to get along with others. more. . .

For more information about individual videos in this series, click on the title below.

If your school or organization does not have these videos, you can purchase them fromLive Wire Media, or request them from your local library.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Dear Teacher or Discussion Leader: In discussing responsibility with your kids, we suggest that you try to steer the conversation away from the issue of "chores." While chores may be important (to parents, anyway), they are rather trivial compared with higher order aspects of responsibility that have to do with character and integrity. We urge you to frame the conversation in this broader light.

If you are using the video, ask the first three questions before viewing.

1. What does it mean when someone is described as a "responsible" person?

2. What are some of the responsibilities kids your age have?

3. Are there some reasons why you might want to be considered a "responsible" person?

4. Why did Rhonda beg her friends to let her work on the science project?

5. Why did Rhonda's friends hesitate to give her an important responsibility?

6. Rhonda's friends took a chance when they trusted her. Would you have done the same? Why, or why not?

7. Why do you think Rhonda decided to stay home and do her work instead of going to Disneyland?

8. How would the play have ended if Rhonda had decided to go to Disneyland?

9. What are the rewards for being a responsible person?

10. In what ways can being responsible or irresponsible affect a person's self-esteem?

11. Did the kids in the discussion part of the program say anything that you strongly agree with or disagree with?

To find teaching guides on Responsibility and related topics for this and other grade levels click here.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

1. Write the six responsible behaviors (see "How To Be A Responsible Person" at the top of this column) on the board, or make copies and hand them out. Have the children think of a few examples for each behavior. Then, for each example, have them brainstorm ways of handling irresponsible people. List the best ideas on the board.

2. Take the examples from activity #1, above, and turn them into role-playing situations using two kids at a time. First, have them role-play the irresponsible behavior, and then, the responsible behavior. Have the group critique each of the role-plays.

3. Design a "Being Responsible" poster illustrating the six responsible behaviors. Put it up on your classroom wall.

4. Have a discussion about classroom responsibility. What are the kids' responsibilities, and what are the teacher's responsibilities? Make a chart of these responsibilities on the board. What are the consequences of being irresponsible? What are the rewards of being responsible?

1. How responsible are you? For each of the six responsible behaviors listed at the top of this column, rate yourself on a scale of one to five (1=awful, and 5=terrific). For each of these behaviors give an example of how you are either responsible or irresponsible, and what you could do to improve.

2. Write about a time when you did something really responsible. Describe it. What was the outcome? How did it make you feel about yourself? Describe a time you did something really irresponsible. What was the outcome? How did it make you feel about yourself?

3. This assignment will encourage young people to play a responsible role in society. Have everybody in the class write a letter to the President or to your senator or congressman about an environmental issue that is currently in the news. Let the kids know that you are going to put all their letters into a large envelope and mail it. Then, do it. Share any response with the kids.

4. Write about the kinds of responsibilities you feel for (or to):
a) yourself
b) your family
c) your friends
d) your community
e) the whole country
f) all people throughout the world
g) our planet and our environment

5. Write about the differences between adult responsibilities and children's responsibilities. What does responsibility have to do with growing up? What responsibilities do you look forward to?

To enlist the involvement of parents, make copies of the "For Parents" block (see below) and send them home with the children. Tell the children to discuss the video with their parents, and to perform the following activities.

1. Have a discussion about responsibility in the family. What are your responsibilities (other than chores), and what are your parents' responsibilities? Make a chart of these responsibilities and put it up on your bedroom wall (or, perhaps, the refrigerator door). What happens if you are irresponsible? What if your parents are irresponsible? What are the rewards for being responsible?

2. Ask your parents or another adult in your family to tell you about some of the things you do (other than chores) that demonstrate responsibility. What does it mean to them when you show that you are responsible? In what ways would they like you to take more responsibility?

3. Talk with your family about what things you can do together to take responsibility for the environment (recycling, using less water and energy, buying non-polluting products, etc.). Make a plan and do it. Report on your plan in class.

4. For one week keep a daily record of all your responsibilities. Include social commitments, homework, household chores, everything. At the end of the week give yourself a grade on how well you did in carrying out your responsibilities.

Note to the teacher or group leader: It might be a good idea to think of some way for the children to share the outcomes of these activities with each other. Perhaps they could give written or oral reports or discuss their experiences in small groups.

Your child is involved in learning-activities designed to develop good character and empower young people to make good choices for themselves. He or she may be asked to complete several tasks at home. Your cooperation with these activities will support our overall program.

The current lesson is about responsibility. We have shown a video entitled "Being Responsible," which presents a skit and discussion about the personal benefits of making responsible choices. Please ask your child to tell you about this video program and what he or she learned from it.

Here are some things you can do to support the idea that being a responsible person makes us feel good about ourselves and makes other people respect and appreciate us.

Talk with your children about responsibility. Tell them that responsibility isn't just doing chores, it's following through on commitments, answering for their own actions, being reliable and trustworthy, using good judgment, taking care of their own affairs, and not procrastinating. Let them know that these are signs they are growing up and can be trusted with greater freedom.

"Catch" your children making a responsible choice or behaving in a responsible manner. Tell them how much that means to you.